Vanderbilt basketball is coming off a stunning home loss to Oklahoma, which had previously been in last place in the SEC.
The Commodores (19-4, 6-4 SEC) now must go back on the road to face Auburn (14-9, 5-5) at Neville Arena on Feb. 10.
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Vanderbilt has dealt with the injuries and a lack of depth, leading to inconsistent performances. Auburn, meanwhile, has also lost back-to-back games against Tennessee and Alabama, the latter of which was at home. The Tigers also have one of the best wins in the country, having defeated Florida in Gainesville.
Here’s what to know about the matchup:
Auburn does everything well on offense − except shoot
Auburn doesn’t turn the ball over, gets a lot of offensive rebounds and gets to the free-throw line a lot. But the Tigers aren’t particularly good at shooting, instead generating offense by racking up extra possessions.
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This style of offense could cause problems for Vanderbilt. The Commodores have done relatively well at altering shots, but they aren’t a great rebounding team and they are especially prone to foul trouble.
Keyshawn Hall and KeShawn Murphy are players to watch
A Keyshawn and KeShawn are also Auburn’s two best players. Hall, a wing, is a 40% 3-point shooter who gets to the free-throw line frequently. Murphy, a big, is an efficient paint scorer who can hit an occasional mid-range shot or 3-pointer while rebounding and protecting the rim.
Hall especially could pose a problem for Vanderbilt if he gets Devin McGlockton or AK Okereke in foul trouble, given the Commodores’ lack of depth.
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Tyler Tanner should play a big role
With Duke Miles and Frankie Collins out, Tyler Tanner has already had to shoulder a big load, but that should especially be the case against Auburn. The Tigers’ strength is in their wings and bigs. They don’t have any plus defenders at the guard position, which should open up plenty of space for Tanner. Tanner should have an opening defensively, too, since the Tigers lack a true point guard.
How to watch Vanderbilt vs. Auburn: Time, TV channel, live stream
Vanderbilt vs Auburn injury updates
Duke Miles and Frankie Collins both missed the game against Ole Miss with knee injuries. Collins has been cleared, but it is unclear whether he will play.
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Vanderbilt vs Auburn prediction
Auburn 85, Vanderbilt 81
Aria Gerson covers Vanderbilt athletics for The Tennessean. Contact her at agerson@gannett.com or on X @aria_gerson.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Vanderbilt basketball vs Auburn prediction, picks in SEC showdown
